Australia dump triangular one-day series

By Greg Stutchbury

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's triangular one-day cricket series, which has been played since the 1979-80 season, has been scrapped in favour of two five-match series against the visiting New Zealand and South African sides.

The decision, which had been expected, was confirmed when Cricket Australia (CA) announced its domestic international programme on Tuesday.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said he expected the two five-match series to generate immense public interest, even if the fourth and fifth matches were dead rubbers.

"There is huge demand for the Australian public to watch the Australian team play, no matter where they play," Sutherland told reporters.

"That level of anticipation no matter where the series is alive or not is there, (especially) when you consider the (Australian) team only comes once or twice to each capital city.

"The anticipation for each match will be there and I'm sure that ticket sales will reflect that. Hopefully those series will be well fought and go to the wire, but we can't control that."

The triangular series, which had witnessed a drop off in interest particularly with matches not involving Australia, was first played between West Indies, Australia and England during the 1979-80 season.

Australia had generally dominated the competition, though it had lost the finals of the last two series to England and India.